PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Riku Valo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Hartunnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valo comes to the cage accompanied by Hand Jive. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Valo
vs
Hartunnen

183 cm
19
149 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
144 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

THRIFTY THREADS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riku Valo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Hartunnen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Valo rushes Hartunnen and presses him up against the cage.
Valo is working Hartunnen over against the cage.

Hartunnen manages to pull guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hartunnen keeping moving, preventing Valo from controlling successfully.

Hartunnen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valo advances position into side control!
Hartunnen tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Hartunnen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hartunnen tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Valo easily slips into full mount!
Hartunnen manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valo is looking to take a break and control but Hartunnen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Valo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hartunnen defends it well.

Valo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Valo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Hartunnen looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hartunnen looking for submissions off his back.
Hartunnen looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Valo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hartunnen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Valo wants to pass to mount but Hartunnen is defending the position.
Hartunnen is trying to control but can't.

Valo maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Hartunnen could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Valo has cracked it and Hartunnen is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Valo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Riku Valo!
Riku Valo thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Timo Hartunnen spoke after the fight, saying 'I want a rematch as soon as possible. This was a fluke victory by my opponent and I will put him in his place the next time we meet.'.